By Our Correspondent
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, on Monday called for stronger collaboration between Muslim and Christian leaders to promote peace, combat hate speech and fake news, and strengthen moral values in Nigeria.
The appeal came during a meeting at the National Mosque, Abuja, where the Sultan received Archbishop Gallagher, who led a Papal delegation comprising Vatican officials and leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by the NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, the visit was aimed at deepening mutual understanding and enhancing cooperation between religious communities in promoting peace, peaceful coexistence and security in Nigeria and beyond.
Welcoming the delegation, the Sultan commended the Catholic Church in Nigeria for its commitment to interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, describing the relationship between the two faith communities as essential to national unity and stability.
Speaking after the meeting, Archbishop Gallagher expressed optimism about the future of interfaith relations in Nigeria, saying discussions reflected a shared commitment by Muslim and Christian leaders to work together for the common good.
“The visit has been very, very good. I was delighted to be invited by His Eminence, the Sultan,” Gallagher said.
“We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, and it was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide.
“For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians.
“There is a common view and a common conviction that Christians and Muslims, particularly their leaders, must work together for the common good of all Nigerians.”
Prof. Shehu said the discussions focused on issues affecting peaceful coexistence, including hate speech, fake news, moral decline and the growing rejection of religion among young people.
He said participants identified hate speech as one of the greatest threats to harmony among faith communities, warning that inflammatory rhetoric had fuelled mistrust and strained interfaith relations.
“They strongly emphasised the need for all religious and faith communities to work together to combat hate speech, especially the growing trend of publicly insulting respected religious leaders,” he said.
The meeting also urged Nigerians to cultivate mutual respect, irrespective of religious affiliation or social status.
On fake news, the religious leaders described the spread of misinformation as a dangerous tool capable of inciting violence and undermining national peace, stressing the need for collective action to curb its impact.
They also expressed concern over what they described as increasing moral degeneration across the world, urging religious leaders to intensify efforts to promote ethical values and responsible conduct within their communities.
The meeting further examined the growing rejection of religion among young people in both the Muslim and Christian communities, with participants calling for greater engagement to strengthen faith, moral guidance and shared values.
The visit, according to the statement, reaffirmed the longstanding commitment of the NSCIA and the Catholic Church to strengthening interfaith relations and advancing peace, unity and social harmony in Nigeria.
